Chatham, MA vs Wilbraham, MA

The cost of living difference between Chatham, MA and Wilbraham, MA is dramatic. Wilbraham is 94.7% cheaper than Chatham, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Chatham has a cost index of 192 while Wilbraham sits at 99, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Chatham is $924/month compared to $1,148/month in Wilbraham — a 20% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Chatham has cheaper rent, Wilbraham actually has lower median home values ($361,600 vs $1,550,000).

Median household income in Chatham is $82,269 compared to $88,409 in Wilbraham (-6.9%). Wilbraham offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Chatham spend roughly 13.5% of their income on rent, less than the 15.6% in Wilbraham.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.9°F vs 49.4°F). Wilbraham receives more rainfall at 45.2" per year compared to 45.2" in Chatham.